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Coyotes’ Smith stands by controversial comments: “I don’t regret anything I said”

Los Angeles Kings v Phoenix Coyotes - Game One

GLENDALE, AZ - MAY 13: Goaltender Mike Smith #41 of the Phoenix Coyotes looks on during Game One of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Kings during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Jobing.com Arena on May 13, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. The Kings defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Even though the Coyotes reacted badly following their season-ending defeat on Tuesday, some folks were willing to accept their apologies. The circumstances -- Dustin Brown nailing Michal Rozsival, Dustin Penner scoring seconds later, some egregious officiating throughout -- were enough to make Phoenix’s blood boil.

The players reacted accordingly, felt bad about it, and wanted to make amends.

But while some, like Shane Doan, apologized for their conduct, goalie Mike Smith went the other way.

“I don’t regret anything I said,” Smith told the Arizona Republic. “It needed to be addressed. We move on. We deal with what we’ve said to the media and to you guys.

“I’ve been honest all season long, and I’m not going to change because a game put us out.”

Here’s what Smith said, in case you missed it.

“The calls that were made and not made down the stretch, that just saps the life out of you. They said we’re complaining a lot about calls, but we’re complaining because they’re calls that have to be made in these games.”

And...

“When Brown gets away with something like that after the whistle — knee on knee, that’s a dangerous play. If Raffi Torres gets 25 games for his hit during the play, this guy should be done forever.”

To be fair, Smith did make a minor alternation to his comment about Brown. While he still thinks it was a “dirty hit” and that “a penalty should’ve been called,” he also added “obviously, a lifetime ban is little much.”

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